Veteran Egyptian actress and former model, Ragaa El-Gedawy, whose career has spanned for over six decades, has passed away at the age of 81.
El-Gedawy has spent over 41 days battling coronavirus at the Abu Khalifa Isolation Hospital in Ismailia.
Amira Hassan Mokhtar, the actress' daughter, has announced on Sunday her mother’s death. The 81-year-old actress was transferred on June 2 into the ICU, after the deterioration of her health condition.
She was transferred immediately to the ICU after she felt shortness of breath, headache, and circulatory collapse in the early hours of the morning.
The veteran actress was infected with the novel coronavirus, on the 27th of Ramadan, after finished filming TV series “Leabah El Nesian” (Oblivion Game), which achieved great success during its premiere in Ramadan.
She entered the isolation on the night of Eid Al-Fitr.
Tributes poured in on social media, as soon as the news circulated, wishing the star a safe and healthy recovery.
The novel coronavirus was first reported in Wuhan, China, and has infected more than one million people and killed over 234,139 worldwide. It also hit several celebrities and top political figures around the world.
The virus is a new member of the Coronaviruses group, which was never identified in humans. The viruses’ family also includes Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV), and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV), which cause illness ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases.
On March 11, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared coronavirus a global pandemic as the new virus has rapidly spread to more than 800,000 people from Asia to the Middle East, Europe, and the United States.
Transmission of viruses between humans happens when someone comes into contact with an infected person’s secretions, such as droplets in a cough.
Coronavirus can also be transmitted by coming into contact with something an infected person has touched and then touching your mouth, nose, or eyes.
It is known that older people appear to be more vulnerable to the effects of the emerging virus.
The virus caused complete paralysis in all activities and events with large gatherings worldwide due to concerns over the spread of the virus.
People across the globe partake in self-isolation for 14 days as an effective precautionary measure to protect those around them and themselves from contracting COVID-19.
Celebrities mourn Ragaa El-Gedawy
A bevy of public figures and celebrities mourned the late actress and took to social media to pay their respects:
Iconic Egyptian actor Adel Imam mourned El-Gedawy by posting a photo of him with the late actress, from the play "Al-Wad Sayed Al-Shaghal", on his account on Instagram.
“Goodbye, the veteran artist Ragaa El-Geddawy,” Imam captioned.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CCRGRX1Jz2u/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Veteran Egyptian actress Dalal Abdulaziz said that the late actress was a big thing for her because she and actress Mervat Amin and Ragaa El-Gedawy went together anywhere.
Abdulaziz added, in a telephone interview with the Amr Adib during his program “Al-Hekaya”, on the satellite channel “MBC Masr,” Sunday evening, that the actor Samir Ghanem could not speak because of Ragaa El-Gedawy’s departure; he did not stop crying.
She continued: "Since she was hospitalized, we gathered and read the Quran "32" times and prayed for her."
Abdulaziz revealed that the Ragaa El-Gedawy visited her at the end of Ramadan to check on her, adding that she also went to visit Amin, but she called her and found her phone closed.
"We have truly lost an icon, the most beautiful soul, the symbol of elegance, the lady, the great actress... #رجاء_الجداوي" actress Reem Moustafa wrote on Instagram.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CCQ96nSA0f5/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Lebanese make-up artist, Joelle Mardinian took to the platform to express her sorrow.
"When I knew that Rajaa Al Jadawi was coming to the opening of @clinicajoelleofficial in Egypt I was overwhelmed with Happiness ❤️ To have the support of a HUGE STAR & A RESPECTED CELEBRITY LIKE HER, WAS A DREAM 🙏🏻 today we all heard the sad news of her joyful soul leaving planet Earth 🌍," she stated.
She continued: "We can only pray that she Rests In Peace 🙏🏻 knowing that she will forever be remembered for everything great that she was. #rip #rajaaaljadawi الله يرحمها ويجعل مثواها الجنة #رجاء_الجداوي."
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Adib, who worked with her for over 15 years, cried on the air during yesterday's episode that was held in her honor and respect.
"She was not an ordinary lady, she had a strange ability to continuously generate love, endless tolerance, and continuous support. She was a mother for all and was one of the finest personalities that I knew in my life. Any place she went with me, we've met success. Ragaa El-Gedawy will not come back to life, she is gone and took everything beautiful with her. May God rest your soul and give me strength on your departure." he tweeted on Twitter.
https://twitter.com/Amradib/status/1279698093349486593?s=20
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